“Visibility, understanding the necessary treatment of episodes related to mental health are both essential steps towards fixing a sports career and, even a life.” This was indicated by Lola Fernández Ochoa, Chairwoman of the Fundación Blanca, during the 4th Seminars on “Communication, Women, and Sport” organised by the platform #EllasSonDeAquí from the Nufri Group.
A question on which many of the speakers at the seminar coincided was the lack of accompaniment or support tools, both during a sporting career and when it has ended, indicating the lack of help to make the reinsertion into working and social life easier after spending many years devoted to sport.
The 4th Seminar on “Communication, Women, and Sport” was structured around four thematic debates. The first revolved around “Mental health and elite sports;” a topical subject that was debated by Anna Boada, an ex-Olympic rower; Lola Fernández-Ochoa, Chairwoman of the Fundación Blanca, ex-skier, communicator about mental health, lecturer and mentor of top-level athletes; and the veteran journalist Olga Viza, who is also a writer and television presenter.
The second topic was about how to face up to life after retiring from competitive sports. Diego Barrio, Head of Sport’s Services from the Higher Council of Sports; Lourdes Mohedano, actress and former Olympic rhythmic gymnast; Eli Pinedo, presenter and ex-international handball player for Spain; and Álex Gordillo, a sports psychologist and teacher at INEFC Lleida, all intervened in this conversation.
Following this, there was a pooling of the views by four women about the professionalisation of women in sport. This was debated by Maite Ruiz de Larramendi, a pelota player and founder of AdosPilora, the first professional female pelota club; the lawyer María José López, a specialist in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sporting Law; Carolina Navarro, a professional paddle tennis player; and Gemma Mengual, an entrepreneur and Spanish ex-Olympic synchronised swimmer.
To close the 4th Seminar on Communication, Women, and Sport, a debate was held between sporting journalism professionals called: “Visibility of minority sports and women athletes,” with Cristina Gallo, Pilar Casado, Paloma Monreal, and Lucía Santiago.
